How I Taught the Utility Scent Discrimination - UPDATED 6/17
& Introducing My Puppy to Fun Games
Using Nosework and Scent Discrimination
This advanced obedience exercise involves the selection of the handler’s article from among the other articles by scent alone and the prompt delivery of the correct article to the handler. Please see the AKC Rules and Regulations book for a description of the exercise and requirements.
Before you begin watch this fascinating short video from TED-ED on how a dog uses his nose to smell. You will better understand how easy scent articles can be as well as why your dog picks up your emotions of fear or displeasure at a dog show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7fXa2Occ_U
Puppy Beginnings - DYLAN 2023-2024
Note: December 2023. With my new puppy Dylan I started "Introduction to Odor" and Scent Work when he was 9 weeks old. I included this o Dylan's pages for those that want to see how you might start a puppy which I learned from the excellent Fenzi Intro to Odor. Here is the link to his first 4 videos from 10 weeks - 15 weeks. DYLAN'S INTRO TO ODOR AND SCENT WORK
AND on 2/23/24 a video on extending love of scent work to "finding mine" odor on a scent article. NOTE: Dogs must be sure to have a strong recall on all things they carry (dumbbell, scent articles, gloves). This needs to be the first work they do before games such as "FIND MINE" for one scent article are played.
Dylan has been taught scent articles very different from the other 2 dogs since we did so much scent work almost daily. He quickly picked up the "FIND MINE" progressing with from 2 leather articles to 12 with the configuration below. Check out Dylan's page for how he was taught the utility scent articles with it being fun and no stress.
_____________________________________________________
When Myst was a very young puppy I would put her in her crate in one room and then hide her ball in another room. After the ball was hidden I would release her to “find it.” This was an excellent indoor game that Myst loved. The hiding of the ball become more and more hard to find but she always found it.
I then moved the ball to our outdoor courtyard and would hide it in various places and again release her from the crate with a “find It.” I noticed one day that when I hid the ball in a new place (dog run attached to the courtyard) that she found it immediately even though it had never been hidden there before. As I increased the difficulty of the places where she was to find the hidden ball, I noticed that she was scenting to find where I had been. She traveled the same path as I did when I hid the ball.
Not realizing that this game would be an excellent foundation for scent discrimination in Utility, we continued to play this game until I introduced the beginning work for Utility scent discrimination which I will share here. What is interesting is that throughout her early training in scent discrimination she never missed finding the correct article. She has now been doing scent discrimination and proofing for some time and has only missed finding the correct article once. I believe that the puppy “find it” game contributed to her understanding and skill at finding the scented article. You will see in the video below the confidence she has in finding the scented article. This video was taken after only working on her scent discrimination for 3 weeks.
Since her first introduction to the “find it” was with a toy and always so much fun for her, she views our work on article scent discrimination as a game and LOVES doing it.
This is how we trained.
Equipment:
Note: before scent discrimination work can be done, the dog must be able to pick up and hold the dumbbell (obedience Open exercises).
Training Location
I always begin my training of new behaviors in the house. I have one room that we use to train. Training a new behavior in the house helps to avoid distractions that can be found outside. In this case, there are many distracting smells outdoors especially in the grass. You want to try to make the training environment as easy as possible to avoid distractions and help your dog be successful.
In the house I put the articles on our flagstone floors and also the carpet. Wonderful for summer hot weather where we have to work inside in afternoons. Video later this week.
ARTICLES SET-UP
Articles should be 6 inches apart
This configuration is used to help the dog learn to work a pile of articles. In your training you will introduce the dog to each of these locations.
9
8 7 10
6 5/12 11
4 3 1
2
Week 1:
GOAL: dog learns to correctly choose an article that has been scented. In this instance cheese is used not only as a motivator but also to easily attract the dog.
Start with 4 articles. You will work with either metal or leather for a week. If you choose leather for Week 1, then Week 2 you will do the exact same work with the metal. The article set up pattern above is what you will use for your article scent discrimination training. You will see how this is used in the video beginning with only 4 articles. Note: you will work scenting this pattern. When your dog is successful at finding the cheese scented article in each of these positions, you will then move to Week 2:
Since you are only going to be using 4 articles for the first few weeks, you will only choose 4 of the spots above to arrange the articles. Since you are teaching the dog to work around the clock you will use positions 1-2-3-4. Starting with Position 1; then Position 2, then 3 and then 4. Keep moving the scented article to a new position until you have completed all 12 positions. Move the unscented articles, using a tong, into the surrounding positions of the one scented with cheese.
Put some cheese wiz on the article to be scented and rub it into the length of the bar. Use the pattern above to arrange the 3 articles (remember either all metal or all leather). Add the 4th article with the cheese wiz to POSITION 1. Remember DO NOT TOUCH the 3 articles that are not to be scented and picked up by the dog. Use the tongs to move and place those unscented articles.
Put the 6 inch leash on the dog to help them be correct. Having the dog on the leash will help them stay focused and having you close using the leash will help you to stop the dog if they are sniffing elsewhere or not choosing the correct behavior of finding the cheese scented article.
Take the dog to the articles and touch the top of the article that is scented (in this first instance with the cheese wiz). Say “Take it”. After the dog has picked it up, say “Good Find it.” Give a lot of praise. At this point you are only training the dog to find the scented article. Don't worry about coming to you or bringing it to you. One step at a time.
Scent the article again and put it in POSITION 2. YOU DO NOT NEED TO USE A NEW ARTICLE EACH TIME since you will be scenting it and this should not change since the goal is to have the dog find the scented article. Replace the article that was scented and found in POSITION 1 with a new unscented article. Use your tongs to put the unscented article in POSITION 1.. Again, for the first week (or longer until your dog is successful at finding in each of the 12 positions) you will do this with only the leather or the metal. If the dog seems to easily go to and take the article scented with the cheese, you can quickly fade, touching the article first and stop saying “take it”. Choose the words you will use for the scent discrimination exercise: “find it” or “find mine.” You can begin using these words at any time that the dog is doing well with the touching the article and taking it and you have faded the touch of the article first.
Summary: for week 1 or as long as it takes, put the cheese on one article (metal or leather) and keep rotating the position you place it in until you have done all 12 positions. The dog should only be finding and picking up the article. If the dog easily seems to understand the find the cheese scented article you can begin to add more articles, 2 at a time.
CHALLENGE; If your dog is picking up or playing with the other articles, you may want to do a tie down for the unscented articles and only have the scented one not tied down. Be sure to have your dog on a leash or flexi so you can help them not be incorrect. Also, be sure at first you go to the scented article, touch it and say to your dog, "TAKE IT" This will help them be correct and understand what you are asking. Very quickly you should not need to do this and begin to use your command of "FIND IT" or "FIND MINE."
Week 2: Repeat the same process with the other article. If you used leather for week 1, then you will now be using metal this week.
Week 3: Begin to add additional articles to the pile using the article set-up above if you have not already done so. Be sure to put articles in the 6 and 11 position and not just the 12. Add 2 articles at a time. By now you should have replaced the “take It” to “find it” or “find mine.”
Within 2 weeks all 8 should be out.
Note: when showing in Utility only 10 articles are used; 2 are held out and not used for the exercise. Then 2 are taken out and scented for the judge to place in the pile for the dog to find. There are only ever a total of 8 in the pile. However when you purchase articles you will be buying 12.
REMEMBER: YOUR GOAL SHOULD BE TO HAVE YOUR DOG BE SUCCESSFUL AT FINDING A SCENTED ARTICLE. THIS SHOULD BE A HAPPY TIME WITH POSITIVE REWARD FOR SUCCESS. Be sure there is a reward each time the dog is successful including verbal praise initially.
Week 4: Try to fade the use of the cheese and just scent the article by rubbing your index and middle finger along the article bar. Even when using the cheese on the bar, I usually scented the article also. Since you are no longer using the cheese as a find it motivator, you will need to have a high value reward to give your dog immediately after they find it and bring it to you. Remember, at this point in the training you are only teaching the "find it" . Don't worry about the fronts and finishes.
When you place the article out in the pile be sure you are using every position in the 12 pattern shown above. Remember to use the tongs when moving or placing the articles so your scent is not put on the other articles.
If your dog is confidently finding the scented article you can begin to have them bring the article to you and do a front. Be careful at this stage not to ask for too much like a perfect front. Remember.. small confident, happy steps.
Advancing and Beginning Proofing
After Myst was able to easily and confidently find the scented articles I moved her work outside. I try to find different surfaces since Kaffee did not like picking up articles on pavers, our flagstone floors or the mats using for indoor shows.
The video below shows Myst’s early work in the house with scent discrimination using the article pattern above and progressing the number of articles used. She is out of sight when the article is placed and goes confidently and quickly to finding the article I scented. This video was done during week 3
of her training where I no longer used cheese for marking the scented article but only used my own scent. However, remember that she is familiar with finding a scented object from her puppy game.
Summary
NEW 6/12/17: WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG PICKS UP THE WRONG ARTICLE: It is very important to NOT use a negative reward marker such as "OPPS, NO" or any other if your dog picks up the wrong article. It is only a matter of time before your dog will pick up the incorrect article. When you watch dogs competing in Utility you will see many dogs worry about not finding the correct article. This can take the form of picking up and dropping the article in the pile; picking up and dropping many articles in the pile; bringing the article half way back and dropping it on the way back; not continuing the retrieve to the handler; not choosing an article at the pile or a number of other behaviors that clearly indicate stress.
If the dog picks up the wrong article, DO NOT TAKE IT FROM HIM, WALK TO THE PILE AND POINT TO THE CORRECT ARTICLE AND SAY, "FIND IT" or whatever words you use to ask him to find the article. The dog should drop the incorrect article and pick up the correct one unless they are being asked to do more than they understand about finding the scented article. Often dogs will just pick up the first one they come to or not take time to work the pile. Some dogs will get very worried and stressed at not being successful when a handler uses a verbal negative reward marker such as "NO or OPPS". Be sure to reward and praise him for taking the scented article.
ONE BEHAVIOR AT A TIME: When you are teaching the dog to do scent discrimination with articles this should be the only behavior you are asking for and looking for initially. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE DOG COMING TO FRONT and doing a perfect front. When the dog picks up the correct article, walk toward him and allow him to release it to you. This way you are NOT rehearing poor fronts. Once the dog understands and consistently finds the correct article from the pile of metal and leather, then you can work on the perfect front since this is the 2ND BEHAVIOR.
Before you begin watch this fascinating short video from TED-ED on how a dog uses his nose to smell. You will better understand how easy scent articles can be as well as why your dog picks up your emotions of fear or displeasure at a dog show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7fXa2Occ_U
Puppy Beginnings - DYLAN 2023-2024
Note: December 2023. With my new puppy Dylan I started "Introduction to Odor" and Scent Work when he was 9 weeks old. I included this o Dylan's pages for those that want to see how you might start a puppy which I learned from the excellent Fenzi Intro to Odor. Here is the link to his first 4 videos from 10 weeks - 15 weeks. DYLAN'S INTRO TO ODOR AND SCENT WORK
AND on 2/23/24 a video on extending love of scent work to "finding mine" odor on a scent article. NOTE: Dogs must be sure to have a strong recall on all things they carry (dumbbell, scent articles, gloves). This needs to be the first work they do before games such as "FIND MINE" for one scent article are played.
Dylan has been taught scent articles very different from the other 2 dogs since we did so much scent work almost daily. He quickly picked up the "FIND MINE" progressing with from 2 leather articles to 12 with the configuration below. Check out Dylan's page for how he was taught the utility scent articles with it being fun and no stress.
_____________________________________________________
When Myst was a very young puppy I would put her in her crate in one room and then hide her ball in another room. After the ball was hidden I would release her to “find it.” This was an excellent indoor game that Myst loved. The hiding of the ball become more and more hard to find but she always found it.
I then moved the ball to our outdoor courtyard and would hide it in various places and again release her from the crate with a “find It.” I noticed one day that when I hid the ball in a new place (dog run attached to the courtyard) that she found it immediately even though it had never been hidden there before. As I increased the difficulty of the places where she was to find the hidden ball, I noticed that she was scenting to find where I had been. She traveled the same path as I did when I hid the ball.
Not realizing that this game would be an excellent foundation for scent discrimination in Utility, we continued to play this game until I introduced the beginning work for Utility scent discrimination which I will share here. What is interesting is that throughout her early training in scent discrimination she never missed finding the correct article. She has now been doing scent discrimination and proofing for some time and has only missed finding the correct article once. I believe that the puppy “find it” game contributed to her understanding and skill at finding the scented article. You will see in the video below the confidence she has in finding the scented article. This video was taken after only working on her scent discrimination for 3 weeks.
Since her first introduction to the “find it” was with a toy and always so much fun for her, she views our work on article scent discrimination as a game and LOVES doing it.
This is how we trained.
Equipment:
- 6 metal articles
- 6 leather articles
- 6 inch leash
- cheese wiz
- tongs so you can move the articles that you are not scenting. This is very important so your scent will not be on any other articles. You are going to want the dog to find the article you scent.
Note: before scent discrimination work can be done, the dog must be able to pick up and hold the dumbbell (obedience Open exercises).
Training Location
I always begin my training of new behaviors in the house. I have one room that we use to train. Training a new behavior in the house helps to avoid distractions that can be found outside. In this case, there are many distracting smells outdoors especially in the grass. You want to try to make the training environment as easy as possible to avoid distractions and help your dog be successful.
In the house I put the articles on our flagstone floors and also the carpet. Wonderful for summer hot weather where we have to work inside in afternoons. Video later this week.
ARTICLES SET-UP
Articles should be 6 inches apart
This configuration is used to help the dog learn to work a pile of articles. In your training you will introduce the dog to each of these locations.
9
8 7 10
6 5/12 11
4 3 1
2
Week 1:
GOAL: dog learns to correctly choose an article that has been scented. In this instance cheese is used not only as a motivator but also to easily attract the dog.
Start with 4 articles. You will work with either metal or leather for a week. If you choose leather for Week 1, then Week 2 you will do the exact same work with the metal. The article set up pattern above is what you will use for your article scent discrimination training. You will see how this is used in the video beginning with only 4 articles. Note: you will work scenting this pattern. When your dog is successful at finding the cheese scented article in each of these positions, you will then move to Week 2:
Since you are only going to be using 4 articles for the first few weeks, you will only choose 4 of the spots above to arrange the articles. Since you are teaching the dog to work around the clock you will use positions 1-2-3-4. Starting with Position 1; then Position 2, then 3 and then 4. Keep moving the scented article to a new position until you have completed all 12 positions. Move the unscented articles, using a tong, into the surrounding positions of the one scented with cheese.
Put some cheese wiz on the article to be scented and rub it into the length of the bar. Use the pattern above to arrange the 3 articles (remember either all metal or all leather). Add the 4th article with the cheese wiz to POSITION 1. Remember DO NOT TOUCH the 3 articles that are not to be scented and picked up by the dog. Use the tongs to move and place those unscented articles.
Put the 6 inch leash on the dog to help them be correct. Having the dog on the leash will help them stay focused and having you close using the leash will help you to stop the dog if they are sniffing elsewhere or not choosing the correct behavior of finding the cheese scented article.
Take the dog to the articles and touch the top of the article that is scented (in this first instance with the cheese wiz). Say “Take it”. After the dog has picked it up, say “Good Find it.” Give a lot of praise. At this point you are only training the dog to find the scented article. Don't worry about coming to you or bringing it to you. One step at a time.
Scent the article again and put it in POSITION 2. YOU DO NOT NEED TO USE A NEW ARTICLE EACH TIME since you will be scenting it and this should not change since the goal is to have the dog find the scented article. Replace the article that was scented and found in POSITION 1 with a new unscented article. Use your tongs to put the unscented article in POSITION 1.. Again, for the first week (or longer until your dog is successful at finding in each of the 12 positions) you will do this with only the leather or the metal. If the dog seems to easily go to and take the article scented with the cheese, you can quickly fade, touching the article first and stop saying “take it”. Choose the words you will use for the scent discrimination exercise: “find it” or “find mine.” You can begin using these words at any time that the dog is doing well with the touching the article and taking it and you have faded the touch of the article first.
Summary: for week 1 or as long as it takes, put the cheese on one article (metal or leather) and keep rotating the position you place it in until you have done all 12 positions. The dog should only be finding and picking up the article. If the dog easily seems to understand the find the cheese scented article you can begin to add more articles, 2 at a time.
CHALLENGE; If your dog is picking up or playing with the other articles, you may want to do a tie down for the unscented articles and only have the scented one not tied down. Be sure to have your dog on a leash or flexi so you can help them not be incorrect. Also, be sure at first you go to the scented article, touch it and say to your dog, "TAKE IT" This will help them be correct and understand what you are asking. Very quickly you should not need to do this and begin to use your command of "FIND IT" or "FIND MINE."
Week 2: Repeat the same process with the other article. If you used leather for week 1, then you will now be using metal this week.
Week 3: Begin to add additional articles to the pile using the article set-up above if you have not already done so. Be sure to put articles in the 6 and 11 position and not just the 12. Add 2 articles at a time. By now you should have replaced the “take It” to “find it” or “find mine.”
Within 2 weeks all 8 should be out.
Note: when showing in Utility only 10 articles are used; 2 are held out and not used for the exercise. Then 2 are taken out and scented for the judge to place in the pile for the dog to find. There are only ever a total of 8 in the pile. However when you purchase articles you will be buying 12.
REMEMBER: YOUR GOAL SHOULD BE TO HAVE YOUR DOG BE SUCCESSFUL AT FINDING A SCENTED ARTICLE. THIS SHOULD BE A HAPPY TIME WITH POSITIVE REWARD FOR SUCCESS. Be sure there is a reward each time the dog is successful including verbal praise initially.
Week 4: Try to fade the use of the cheese and just scent the article by rubbing your index and middle finger along the article bar. Even when using the cheese on the bar, I usually scented the article also. Since you are no longer using the cheese as a find it motivator, you will need to have a high value reward to give your dog immediately after they find it and bring it to you. Remember, at this point in the training you are only teaching the "find it" . Don't worry about the fronts and finishes.
When you place the article out in the pile be sure you are using every position in the 12 pattern shown above. Remember to use the tongs when moving or placing the articles so your scent is not put on the other articles.
If your dog is confidently finding the scented article you can begin to have them bring the article to you and do a front. Be careful at this stage not to ask for too much like a perfect front. Remember.. small confident, happy steps.
Advancing and Beginning Proofing
After Myst was able to easily and confidently find the scented articles I moved her work outside. I try to find different surfaces since Kaffee did not like picking up articles on pavers, our flagstone floors or the mats using for indoor shows.
The video below shows Myst’s early work in the house with scent discrimination using the article pattern above and progressing the number of articles used. She is out of sight when the article is placed and goes confidently and quickly to finding the article I scented. This video was done during week 3
of her training where I no longer used cheese for marking the scented article but only used my own scent. However, remember that she is familiar with finding a scented object from her puppy game.
Summary
- Week 1: use 4 articles (either metal or leather); scent one with cheese rubbed along the bar. Keep choosing a different article to scent and use the article pattern above to move where the scented article is placed. The goal during week 1 is only to have the dog learn to find and pick up a scented article. Goal 2 would be to make this a happy and fun exercise for the dog. If dog is doing well in finding the cheese scented article, you can begin to add articles; 2 at a time. Goal 3 is to teach the dog to work a pile of articles. You teach this by rotating the position of the scented article from position 1 sequentially to position 12. You can do this in one training session. Remember, only touch the article the dog is to find; move the others with the tongs.
- Week 2: same as week 1 but with the other type of article.
- Week 3: All 8 articles should be out. The words "find it" or "find mine" should be used when sending the dog. Cheese should still be used on the bar for building confidence. Be sure to scent the article with your fingers as well as the cheese.
- Week 4: Cheese can be removed to assess dog's understanding and confidence in correctly finding the scented article the first time. If the dog does not find the correct article after the cheese has been removed, go back to the work in week 3. Go slow with your progression building a solid understanding and good attitude. Dog can begin coming to front to bring you the article.
- When the dog correctly finds the article you scented and you are using 8 articles, begin to take the scent work to new locations and different surfaces both indoors and out.
NEW 6/12/17: WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG PICKS UP THE WRONG ARTICLE: It is very important to NOT use a negative reward marker such as "OPPS, NO" or any other if your dog picks up the wrong article. It is only a matter of time before your dog will pick up the incorrect article. When you watch dogs competing in Utility you will see many dogs worry about not finding the correct article. This can take the form of picking up and dropping the article in the pile; picking up and dropping many articles in the pile; bringing the article half way back and dropping it on the way back; not continuing the retrieve to the handler; not choosing an article at the pile or a number of other behaviors that clearly indicate stress.
If the dog picks up the wrong article, DO NOT TAKE IT FROM HIM, WALK TO THE PILE AND POINT TO THE CORRECT ARTICLE AND SAY, "FIND IT" or whatever words you use to ask him to find the article. The dog should drop the incorrect article and pick up the correct one unless they are being asked to do more than they understand about finding the scented article. Often dogs will just pick up the first one they come to or not take time to work the pile. Some dogs will get very worried and stressed at not being successful when a handler uses a verbal negative reward marker such as "NO or OPPS". Be sure to reward and praise him for taking the scented article.
ONE BEHAVIOR AT A TIME: When you are teaching the dog to do scent discrimination with articles this should be the only behavior you are asking for and looking for initially. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE DOG COMING TO FRONT and doing a perfect front. When the dog picks up the correct article, walk toward him and allow him to release it to you. This way you are NOT rehearing poor fronts. Once the dog understands and consistently finds the correct article from the pile of metal and leather, then you can work on the perfect front since this is the 2ND BEHAVIOR.
TEACHING MY PUPPY (2016) ABOUT SCENT AND PROGRESSING INTO SCENT DISCRIMINATION WITH ARTICLES.The "FIND IT" GAME to help teach the dogs to use their nose to find a scented article in a fun, no stress game environment. The dogs love this game which builds so much value for the exercise in Utility.
Nosework Hunting Game: This work is taken from Stacy Barnett's online "Introduction to Nosework" class. The dog is now introduced to finding the hide in more containers, understanding the job and committing to the source.
Beckett is 6 months old and has been doing nosework for a few months building reinforcement to the source and enjoyment of the game of "search" or "find it."
Susan Garrett writes and believes, "Everything you want your dog to learn can be communicated to him in the form of a GAME." Creating your training around games help to bring joy into your relationship with your dog. Here is one example of how our "FIND IT" game has evolved now using the obedience utility scent article. Beckett is 7 months old and finds the scent article box every time. To help ensure that he is not just using his own scent on the top of the box I have changed the box lid and washed the lids between use.
The second video is progression of this game to find the utility scent article. We are now using both metal and leather scented articles in a box for him to identify and find. Then I have added unscented articles in the other boxes and have increased the number of boxes. Since it is important for the dog to learn to work the pile as the "round the clock" method teaches, I rotate the scented article box to all the positions. At the end of this second video Beckett is very cool in that he first hits the scented box but then proceeds around the circle to check out all the boxes and then returns to the original one and marks it. Very fun game the he LOVES.
Next Beckett is being introduced to the Utility scent articles with NO boxes. I was not sure how he would do but each time he has been presented with finding the scented article and discriminating the correct one from the unscented, he finds it. I really like how he thinks he has the correct one but at times checks out the others before he selects the correct article. Beckett was introduced to this by giving him the scented article in the box as he has been doing to orient him to what he was suppose to do. Then one scented and one unscented (his second time ever). Then 3 articles (one scented and 2 unscented) - first time ever.
Video 5 introduces Beckett to the scent articles outdoors to see if he can stay focused and find the correct article with distractions: people training in adjoining ring, people coming to train and smelly grass with treat crumbs from the novice agility class.
Video 6: Progression of Utility scent article work: 3 metal articles and 3 leather articles. Leather articles are more difficult for dogs especially if they are new. The smell of the leather adds to the complexity of the discrimination. Beckett had trouble initially when I first introduced the leather articles so I went back to putting the leather in the containers and increased the number of containers to 6. He always found the scented article when in the container.
Then I went to doing the metal first for a few times and then the leather with only 2 leather articles. I did not progress to more than 2 for a short time to be sure he could be correct with the leather articles outside of the boxes. I did not ask for more behaviors such as sit in his "place" or ready position and wait for me to put out the articles AND I did not expect any fronts. The only behavior I was training and looking for was finding the article with my scent with metal and leather articles.
NEXT I will have him sit by my side in his place position and then leave him and put out the articles. I will also increase the number of articles. BUT, I will not at this time combine metal and leather. My placement of the articles follows the diagram above.
Video 7: Progressing Beckett's Utility Scent Articles. Our progression involved first having Beckett sit next to me as he will when showing while the scent articles are arranged in front of him. He is doing very well with the SIT AND WAIT. This is the first video where he is out of his settle bed. Next, I am increasing the number of articles: for metal he is up to 6 and for leather he is up to 5. Leather are more difficult due to the smells in the leather and he had new leather articles made. I want him to be successful so begin with a few articles and increase. We are also now working more on teaching him to work the pile when we have a larger number of articles. You will see this with the 6 metal articles. Since the only behavior being taught is to find the scented article, I am not looking for FRONTS and do not want him rehearsing wrong fronts so I walk into him as he bring the article to me.
Video 8: Beckett is introduced to both metal and leather articles. This is a big step since the leather articles are more difficult for the dogs with their ingrained leather smell. We start with only 2 articles -one metal and one leather. The metal one is scented since I feel it has been easier to identify. We progress to 2 leather and one metal and then 2 metal and 2 leather. Articles are re-arranged each time. Since this exercise can be very stressful for dogs showing in Utility I will progress this stage very slowly. We only do articles once or twice a week. You will notice a few stress signs of yawning before we begin that do not continue.
Beckett is 6 months old and has been doing nosework for a few months building reinforcement to the source and enjoyment of the game of "search" or "find it."
Susan Garrett writes and believes, "Everything you want your dog to learn can be communicated to him in the form of a GAME." Creating your training around games help to bring joy into your relationship with your dog. Here is one example of how our "FIND IT" game has evolved now using the obedience utility scent article. Beckett is 7 months old and finds the scent article box every time. To help ensure that he is not just using his own scent on the top of the box I have changed the box lid and washed the lids between use.
The second video is progression of this game to find the utility scent article. We are now using both metal and leather scented articles in a box for him to identify and find. Then I have added unscented articles in the other boxes and have increased the number of boxes. Since it is important for the dog to learn to work the pile as the "round the clock" method teaches, I rotate the scented article box to all the positions. At the end of this second video Beckett is very cool in that he first hits the scented box but then proceeds around the circle to check out all the boxes and then returns to the original one and marks it. Very fun game the he LOVES.
Next Beckett is being introduced to the Utility scent articles with NO boxes. I was not sure how he would do but each time he has been presented with finding the scented article and discriminating the correct one from the unscented, he finds it. I really like how he thinks he has the correct one but at times checks out the others before he selects the correct article. Beckett was introduced to this by giving him the scented article in the box as he has been doing to orient him to what he was suppose to do. Then one scented and one unscented (his second time ever). Then 3 articles (one scented and 2 unscented) - first time ever.
Video 5 introduces Beckett to the scent articles outdoors to see if he can stay focused and find the correct article with distractions: people training in adjoining ring, people coming to train and smelly grass with treat crumbs from the novice agility class.
Video 6: Progression of Utility scent article work: 3 metal articles and 3 leather articles. Leather articles are more difficult for dogs especially if they are new. The smell of the leather adds to the complexity of the discrimination. Beckett had trouble initially when I first introduced the leather articles so I went back to putting the leather in the containers and increased the number of containers to 6. He always found the scented article when in the container.
Then I went to doing the metal first for a few times and then the leather with only 2 leather articles. I did not progress to more than 2 for a short time to be sure he could be correct with the leather articles outside of the boxes. I did not ask for more behaviors such as sit in his "place" or ready position and wait for me to put out the articles AND I did not expect any fronts. The only behavior I was training and looking for was finding the article with my scent with metal and leather articles.
NEXT I will have him sit by my side in his place position and then leave him and put out the articles. I will also increase the number of articles. BUT, I will not at this time combine metal and leather. My placement of the articles follows the diagram above.
Video 7: Progressing Beckett's Utility Scent Articles. Our progression involved first having Beckett sit next to me as he will when showing while the scent articles are arranged in front of him. He is doing very well with the SIT AND WAIT. This is the first video where he is out of his settle bed. Next, I am increasing the number of articles: for metal he is up to 6 and for leather he is up to 5. Leather are more difficult due to the smells in the leather and he had new leather articles made. I want him to be successful so begin with a few articles and increase. We are also now working more on teaching him to work the pile when we have a larger number of articles. You will see this with the 6 metal articles. Since the only behavior being taught is to find the scented article, I am not looking for FRONTS and do not want him rehearsing wrong fronts so I walk into him as he bring the article to me.
Video 8: Beckett is introduced to both metal and leather articles. This is a big step since the leather articles are more difficult for the dogs with their ingrained leather smell. We start with only 2 articles -one metal and one leather. The metal one is scented since I feel it has been easier to identify. We progress to 2 leather and one metal and then 2 metal and 2 leather. Articles are re-arranged each time. Since this exercise can be very stressful for dogs showing in Utility I will progress this stage very slowly. We only do articles once or twice a week. You will notice a few stress signs of yawning before we begin that do not continue.
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